Perceived injustices cannot distract spirited Toffees
If injustice was Everton’s fuel, they never quite caught fire against Manchester United. Beyond their 10-point penalty, Goodison Park rattled with the sound of further injustice, with just about every refereeing decision barracked. It is not uncommon for fans to believe referees are biased against their club, such complaints are heard at every ground in the world but John Brooks actually ruled – and wrongly, as shown by VAR – in Everton’s favour when booking Anthony Martial for a dive when Ashley Young had committed an injudicious foul. A siege mentality is fair enough considering circumstances and during the first half there were signs it was an effective motivation tool. But becoming distracted by the perceived injustice of Brooks’s decisions only served to drop heads. Sean Dyche has form for deflecting towards officialdom but perhaps concentrating on creating better, clearer chances for his forwards would be a superior means of kicking against the pricks than enabling fans’ persecution complex. John Brewin
Nervy United relying on individual moments of magic
The pink-flyer fury of Goodison Park, a club railing against a historic points deduction. The siege is coming for you, the embattled men in red. How do you cope with the volatility? You get Diogo Dalot to float a hopeful ball into the box and, more importantly, you let Alejandro Garnacho fly. The winger’s overhead kick was a staggering mix of technical excellence and grace, a much needed bit of colour in a game that was always going to be more about scrap than intricacy. Even after a dig into the archives, the goal will sit comfortably among the greatest in Premier League history. Despite a comprehensive scoreline, United had their nervy moments at the back, remain unconvincing going forward and without key players. For now, individual moments of brilliance will have to do. André Onana provided a few in goal and the 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo’s goalline clearance in his first Premier League start was one, too. But Garnacho trumped the lot. Taha Hashim
Injury-hit Spurs still playing well despite losing run
Three consecutive defeats have halted Tottenham’s momentum. They led in each game, only to give away cheap goals with slack defending. “Angeball”, all the rage a month ago, is suddenly naive and one-dimensional. Really, though, there was not too much for Spurs to worry about when they lost 2-1 to a good Aston Villa side on Sunday. Ange Postecoglou has a small squad and is missing a lot of important players. His defence has been ripped apart, James Maddison is out and the injury list grew longer when Rodrigo Bentancur went off against Villa. However, Spurs still played well. They could have blown Villa away after taking the lead and had chances to equalise after falling behind. This is not a crisis. “Today was about trying to play the football we want to play,” Postecoglou said. “If we fell short, we fell short but I didn’t think we fell short today.” Jacob Steinberg
Akanji gives Guardiola reason to be patient with Stones
It was a surprise to see John Stones back in the Manchester City squad, although he did not get off the bench in Saturday’s home draw with Liverpool; it had been presumed he was still injured. Pep Guardiola would explain that the centre-back “feels good” but needed “one or two weeks of proper strength training sessions” before he would be completely ready. The good news for Guardiola is he does not have to rush Stones along because, in Manuel Akanji, he has a player more than capable of filling in. Akanji played the Stones role to a tee against Liverpool, stepping up into midfield alongside Rodri, breaking lines with his carries or passes, connecting with the wingers. He was also part of a defensive effort that restricted Liverpool. Guardiola described the work of Akanji and Rodri as a “masterpiece.” He added: “Manu was incredible at Chelsea [two weeks previously] and here. Full-back, centre-half, holding midfield … passes, he’s strong. What a player Txiki [Begiristain] has bought me.” David Hytner
Pochettino fumes at ‘soft’ team but Miley has Magpies smiling
Maybe it was the sight of three goalkeepers and four academy players on Newcastle’s bench? Or perhaps 17-year-old Lewis Miley’s presence in Eddie Howe’s central midfield? Whatever the reason an inexcusably complacent Chelsea – with Raheem Sterling, the scorer of a gloriously dipping free-kick, a notable exception to the general malaise – permitted themselves to be routed 4-1 by a wonderfully committed Newcastle. With 11 senior players injured it was small wonder Howe spoke of a “giant performance”. Or that Mauricio Pochettino cancelled a planned day off and said he was “very, very, very, very, very angry and upset”. Chelsea’s manager was guilty of only slight exaggeration when he said his defensively slapdash team were “soft in every single challenge”. Howe can expect a considerably tougher test in the Champions League at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday but Miley’s sublime through pass for Alexander Isak’s opening goal suggests he possesses a budding star. Louise Taylor
Havertz hits timely high note for Arsenal
There were more than a few Arsenal supporters who questioned Mikel Arteta’s judgment over the £65m it cost to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea, but his winning goal in the 89th minute against Brentford on Saturday showed why the Spaniard was so keen. Havertz has always possessed an eye for goal and even scored just five minutes into his surprise appearance at left-back for Germany against Turkey last week. But while it seems unlikely that Arteta will play him in that position given Arsenal’s paucity of attacking options, the 24-year-old could be a key player as the title race goes on if he can find some rhythm in north London after scoring from open play for his new club for the first time. “I have tried to put my ego aside and the team is the important thing,” Havertz said of his slow start at Arsenal. “These late winners are nice and to celebrate in front of the fans was a good feeling.” Ed Aarons
Ogbene’s work in training comes to fruition at vital time
A game decided over 30 mad minutes, with 12 added on beyond the 90, had been headed for stalemate until the interventions of Chiedozie Ogbene and Michael Olise. Both could have qualified for Nigeria, though Luton’s Ogbene plays for Ireland and Olise has played for France Under-21s while also remaining eligible for England and Algeria. Both showed high-end individual skill, with Olise’s solo run and thrashing equaliser perhaps the strike of the season. Ogbene, not quite as extravagantly gifted but Luton’s best attacking outlet, was relentless where Olise can be passive, and his assist for Jacob Brown’s winner, after Ross Barkley’s pass and run had drawn in Palace’s defenders, was classy. “What you saw for the second goal is exactly what we’ve been practising in training,” said Ogbene. He had made it look like a piece of improvisation. “I know I’m gifted with pace and I try to use it. It’s good I’m getting recognition for it.” JB
Wasteful Forest miss injured Awoniyi in defeat
The loss of Taiwo Awoniyi to a groin injury for an expected two months makes Nottingham Forest’s mid-table security look vulnerable. The striker would surely have been well suited to the team’s surprising dominance of Saturday’s 3-2 defeat by Brighton despite Steve Cooper’s criticism of their first-half showing. In all metrics except the crucial one of goalscoring Forest were superior, making four big chances to Brighton’s one, creating the better expected goals and delivering 18 shots and 35 crosses. Chris Wood, Awoniyi’s deputy, scored twice in the 2-2 draw with Luton recently but his biggest contribution in a penalty area was conceding the spot-kick from which João Pedro scored Brighton’s third goal. At least Morgan Gibbs-White, with only two previous assists this season, scored a penalty and made Anthony Elanga’s goal but it is down the middle where Forest need to be more clinical. Peter Lansley
Blades face bitter aftertaste following defeat by Cherries
Bournemouth’s form spells danger for their peers in the relegation battle. Andoni Iraola’s pressing style has established itself after the Basque was previously dismissed as an unnecessary, hipster replacement for Gary O’Neil. He is getting the best from his club’s recent spending spree, too. Justin Kluivert scored a first Premier League goal but it was the January signing Antoine Semenyo at the heart of their most dangerous attacks. Marcus Tavernier, a relatively old hand, having joined the club last year, scored two well-taken goals at Bramall Lane. Unlike Sheffield United, Bournemouth’s owners have spent money on their team and a clear gap in quality was visible. Blades fans made their dissatisfaction audible but their club’s lack of ambition is the main source of ire. Bournemouth’s American owners hope to establish a Premier League outfit, while Saudi Prince Abdullah, with a hoped-for takeover in abeyance, appears merely happy to collect revenue and hope for the best. JB
Koleosho offers glimmer of home to Burnley
When Luca Koleosho arrived at Burnley in the summer from Espanyol for £2.6m plus add-ons, he looked like an intriguing prospect for the future but has had an immediate impact. Vincent Kompany has shown great faith in his ability and handed the then 18-year-old his debut on the opening night of the season against Manchester City. It was a surprise to many because he had barely played a senior first-team game before moving to Lancashire but is repaying his manager’s selection. He is a fearless winger, able to go on the inside or out, forcing defenders to spend matches on the back foot. On Saturday he won one penalty against West Ham and could have earned another if the referee saw it a different way, an indication of the problems his quick feet cause in the box. While others are struggling at Turf Moor, Koleosho is the shining light, who should earn the club a profit in the summer, if they decide to sell him. Will Unwin
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 13 | 17 | 30 |
| 2 | Man City | 13 | 20 | 29 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 13 | 17 | 28 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 13 | 13 | 28 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 | 8 | 26 |
| 6 | Man Utd | 13 | 0 | 24 |
| 7 | Newcastle | 13 | 17 | 23 |
| 8 | Brighton | 13 | 5 | 22 |
| 9 | West Ham | 13 | 0 | 20 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 13 | 2 | 16 |
| 11 | Brentford | 13 | 1 | 16 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton | 12 | -4 | 15 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 13 | -5 | 15 |
| 14 | Nottm Forest | 13 | -5 | 13 |
| 15 | Fulham | 12 | -10 | 12 |
| 16 | AFC Bournemouth | 13 | -14 | 12 |
| 17 | Luton | 13 | -11 | 9 |
| 18 | Sheff Utd | 13 | -23 | 5 |
| 19 | Everton | 13 | -6 | 4 |
| 20 | Burnley | 13 | -22 | 4 |
